church on the ocean #3

In one of my former blogs ( church on the ocean ) I told the story of meeting Michael who conducts faithfully every Sunday afternoon a bible study. This was on March 12. Last week he was again in port after a long, three and a half month  tour to Europe and back. We  lunched together and we had a wonderful time of fellowship. He told me how important it is and how  much seafarers appreciate it when chaplains visit their ship which, according to Michael, happens not too often when they visit ports worldwide. Michaell is now facing a dilemma;  He will sign-off in Hong Kong and who will continue leading the bible studies?

 When he was here in March there were ten crew members attending the bible study. This number has since decreased to four due to signing-off and no new crew members have joined  the study.  Before I left the ship we prayed together that God will move the heart of one of the crew members to replace Michael when he leaves the ship. We said goodbye knowing that, " God never leaves us nor forsakes us! " ( Michael is in the middle of the picture )